TV THOUGHTS: Aaj TV's first anniversary:some major strides Amin Fahim's candid talk; Abrar's Billo!
I write this part of the column on Pakistan Day, that is the 23rd of March 2006.I have the feeling that I am unable to focus on the entirety of the cable TV network that is available to us in Karachi. Which means that there are channels that are left out or stand apparently ignored.
There is no such intent to overlook any channel, or anybody. In that sense, there is no prejudice. I perhaps carry the prejudice that any TV viewer would have. Even that I strive to overcome.
One of my handicaps is that of the cable operator. I am limited by technology in a sense, to an extent, and circumstances. My cable operator provides me with one package and that does not include all the channels. It, however, does include Aaj, which completes its first anniversary today, (Pakistan' Day) and as I write from the office I can feel the heat that the channel is generating as it celebrates. It exudes a certain confidence, a certain buoyancy, a certain promise Enough?
Let's continue with the facts. The cable operator at home, provides me lesser channels at home, but it includes Aaj, but for instance gives me not KTN which I have enjoyed watching. It gives me not Ary City channel and it gives me not CNBC Pakistan or Geo, only Geo news.
The operator has his limitations, which include those of finance. Cable subscribers do not pay enough or on time. That's another story. Pemra? I don't know. Pemra can act? I don't think so.
I have two TV sets at home. One in the TV lounge, which gives me a poor sound quality with some channels, including Aaj and the TV set in my bedroom gives me poor sound or picture quality with other channels. Here I am advised (authenticity doubtful) that certain TV sets don't harmonise with certain channels. I would like to respond rubbish, but I am not technically correct or qualified to adjudicate.
Therefore what happens is that I can end up watching channels that are easily available. Sound and image quality wise, which is not the case with several channels. That includes Aaj which has been launched by this newspaper, Business Recorder. This birth is another aspect of the media scene in the country. Media growth, that is.
Consequently Aaj TV completes one year of its presence, and with the way in which time travels, and dissolves, and it is useful to read the Aaj TV print media advertisement that reads thus: that it is the first Pakistani private TV station, as well as the first to bring news five minutes before anyone else, first Pakistani channel to give telephonic news headlines all over the world, first to ever bring a radio show to television, first to two way satellite linking in the sub-continent, first satellite channel to telecast news from three different stations, KHR, LHR. ISL; first Indian content free channel, first channel to start earthquake relief effort, and first tv station to have branded test transmission.
And to celebrate the 23rd March 2006, this channel, like some others, had special programmes spread over the day and night. These ten programmes were live and recorded shows, like Aaj Sub live, the College Name, Aaj documentary, Aaj Ki Kahaniyan, Warid musical show, Begum Nawazish anniversary special, Four Man show (comedy) Wirasat, a special Pakistan Day play, and a live performance with Rahat Fateh Ali.
As one is focusing on the Aaj TV's first anniversary it is definitely time to think about other channels too. But first, congratulations, Aaj TV, and I hope I can watch more of you next year. Meanwhile I remember here that HUM TV also celebrated its first anniversary last month. Was it?
On this point let me conclude by saying, that under the best of circumstances, it is impossible and out of the question to watch all the channels that we have, and be "fair" in the sense that is generally understood.
Watching television on Sunday evening for some time I had a somewhat difficult choice of opting to watch the Punjabi Apna Channel, or the Hum TV, which is coming up with some very interesting options. There was the seasoned politician and PPPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim being interviewed and he was speaking with candour, and there was the popular singer Abrarul Haq being interviewed (in Punjabi) on the Apna TV. Honestly speaking I was at times unable to decide, and therefore kept switching between the two. In fact such choices surface several times, and they indicate the varying, divergent and even contrasting (conflicting?) moods of the channels.
The interview with Makhdoom Amin Fahim was very interesting, and in fact revealing as well. The interviewer was Naeem Bokhari. Among the many issues that were touched upon were the various aspects of politics in the country today. Conversation moved from one point to another and at one stage the subject of President Pervez Musharraf's term of office became the subject. Reflecting the latitude that the electronic media has today, Amin Fahim was saying that right now the Pakistani nation was trapped between martial law and democracy. That right now there was neither one nor the other. He said that he did not want to see another martial law in the country, and that he was suggesting many options, all for the good of the people and the country. He even said that there was a need to give an honourable exit to President Musharraf, and emphasised that it would be in the interests of the nation.
I found this very significant that we have reached a stage in our media growth where such conversation can be allowed to be telecast. He was asked about the general election which is due next year and to this Amin Fahim, (who is so cool when he talks on these issues) replied that he felt that under the prevailing circumstances he was not hopeful of fair and free polls. And referring to the role and status of judiciary in this country, he stressed upon the need to have a powerful judiciary, besides being honest and free. He remarked that right now justice is in jail.
Naeem Bokhari, who often over-talks, asked the noted politician about it: was if possible to "free ourselves from the Maulana's". To this Amin Fahim counter-questioned, "Why should we do this? Let the people decide whatever is to be done..." Finally Makhdoom Amin Fahim was asked a question, "would you make a fine Prime Minister". The Peoples Party leader said with a smile "I don't know."
This was once again one of those interviews that would have a reference value in the days ahead, as the political climate warns up in view of the general election that are due. Once again, one wonders whether such political programmes that come on our TV channels can be made available to the public.
Now some focus on the very well conducted interview of the singer Abrarul Haq. It was a talk show, that was gentle, mild, and extremely absorbing. Keeping in mind that singers like him are interviewed all the time, and have at times an over exposure, there is little that is either new or worth spending time on. But this one was handled with care by an interviewer who was new to me. But I would like to see more of him. He appears to employ the understatement, and Abrar handled it with grace, finesse.
I was not able to see all of the interview, on the Apna Channel, but whatever I did brought out the personal life of the young man, who wanted to be an armed forces officer, like the rest of his family. Or he had the option of becoming a superior services officer. His father, said Abrar, wanted him most of all to be a good man, at heart. It seemed that this was where he was placing all the emphasis, on being a good person, in real life.
The young interviewer wanted to be naughty with Abrar and the popular singer had no such plans of speaking and communicating at that level, in that frequency, with the result that whenever such questions came, Abrar had a straight face, and said nothing more. There were other stereotyped and ordinary questions to which there were answers which revealed that Abrarul Haq liked to wear trousers and shorts mostly! Or that his favourite colours seemed to be blue, black, purple and pink and even brown. All in all, the young man came through as a very simple, even pleasant person, and there was no real Billo in his life. He said that he had been asked this question umpteen times in his life, as to who was Billo and he has been repeating that this is a fictitious, symbolic character whom he sings about. But one understands why the questions keeps coming. Finally, on his marriage he came to the point when he said that it was an arranged marriage. Period. All in all, I like Abrar's singing and his personality and therefore I enjoyed this interview.
Confession. I have missed out on several themes that I had wanted to write about, and compelling themes really. Like the death of Mohammad Ali, our great film actor. Next week, I commit.
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